Multiple use display unit



Sept. 26, 1944. w. T. HoRMEs MULTIPLE USE DISPLAY UNIT Filed Aug. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 26, 1944. w. T. HoRMEs MULTIPLE USE DISPLAY UNIT Filed Aug. 20, 19.42 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 26, 1944 UNITED sTATEsPATsNT oFFlcs MULTIPLE USEDISPLAY UNIT William T. Hormes, Catonsville, Md.

Application August 20, 1942, Serial No. 455,479

'i'` Claims.

This invention is a multiple use unit for store equipment, designed to display merchandise for sale.

`One of the objects of the invention is to provide a display unit or support for merchandise, which may be readily and conveniently inserted in display cabinets oi the types now in general use. A further Objectis to provide a merchandise supporting multiple use display unit of simple construction capable of supporting various types of merchandise, and means for adjustably supporting it within its cabinet or other type of shelving structure.

The storage of hats and similar objects for display purposes involves a difficult problem for the merchant. One prior art example in this field is disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,172,799, issued to me February 22, 1916, A further object 'of the present invention is to provide simplified means for storing and displaying hats and similar articles in such a manner as to obtain increased capacity for storage with maximum protection for the merchandise coupled with advantageous display of the latter.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure l is a perspective view of a cabinet adapted to support the display unit of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the support means for the display unit.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective View illustrating the relationship of the supporting elements.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail views of the unit adjusted to support hats.

Figure 6 is a detail view illustrating the means -lor mounting the hat unit on the unit supporting member.

`Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a cabinet with the unit adjusted as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawings, for purposes of illustration, a cabinet C similar to that forming the subject matter of a copending application led concurrently herewith has been selected. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited in this particular, but is adapted for use in any of the display cabinets now in general use. In Figure l, this cabinet C is illustrated in perspective, but with the front linish of the completed cabinet omitted. As shown, C designates a unit which consists of two end members l0, a

rear wall Il, a top I2, and a bottom wall i3 assembled and united in any desired or well known manner commonly practiced in the art.

Secured in suitable manner to the inner face of each end member l0 are two vertically disposed strips` l 5 relatively spaced rearwardly, each strip being provided with alined slots |5 to receive supporting ears I6. Said ears I6 are constructed with oppositely extended lugs I1 and I8, complemental to and engageable with slots in the respective strips I5. These ears i6 are usually employed in groups of four, each ear engaging a strip I5, the ears of each group being arranged in the same horizontal plane. In the present instance, these ears are preferably employed to sustain support elements E which are in the form of strips of right angular cross section, with one oi the webs I9 of each strip arranged in a horizontal plane, soas to rest upon the tops of a pair of ears I6, the other Web 20 being disposed in a vertical plane and resting against the inner surface of the adjacent end member Ill. Each web or ange I9 is provided with depending studs 2l to be inserted into openings 22 formed in the ears I6. The support elements are arranged in pairs, each pair comprising two members supported in opposite relation upon the respective inner surfaces of the end members. It is to be understood that if desired, the structure thus far described, may be used to support shelving in a manner well understood in the art.

Slidingly engaging the support ilanges I9 are slotted end portions 24 of tubular merchandisesupporting members T, a set screw 25 being arranged in each slotted end portion to engage the adjacent flange I9, and thereby hold the member T against slidable movement, after it has been adjusted to the desired position along the flanges I9'. It will readily be understood that the tubular members T may be employed to support clothes hangers, but they are provided with a number of vertically aligned openings 26 to receive angular ends 2 of grid-like merchandise supporting forms F. Each of said forms as shown, consists offa pair of wire bodies arranged in grid-iron form and in relatively spaced relation as indicated in Figures 4 and 5, so that while the grids are in vertically spaced alignment but in staggered relation, each space f provides a guide portion ccmplemental to the crowns of hats resting upon the next lower grid. Each grid consists of a body formed of a U-shaped wire gl and a plurality of intermediate hat supporting wires y. The outer ends of the wires g are integrally connected with the outer bowed portions g2 of the U -shaped wire g, and the inner ends of all of the wires are provided with bent portions g3, so that they may freely enter into or be removed from the openings 2E in the tubular members T,

In practice, any desired number of the support elements -E may be used, depending upon the capacity of the cabinet or other structure inY which the display units are to be located and the character of the merchandise to be displayed. Having made the desired selection, the support ears I6 are placed in relatively spaced relation in the strips l5, thereby providing a four point suspension which is suniciently strong to support a substantially constructed Wood shelf, However, for the support of a less strong wood shelf and always when a glass shelf is to be supported, the angle strips E should be employed in connection with the ears IG. Therefore, after placing the ears i6 in position the desired number of elements E are placed upon the ears, the studs 2| being inserted into the openings I8. When the unit container C is to be used for clothing storage and display, instead of merchandise of a type commonly placed on shelves, the tubular members T'are employed in lieu of the shelves. Said tubular members are positioned within the unit container C by engaging the slots 24 with the iiange |53 of elements E, and moving said members T to the desired location with respect to the back of the cabinet. When properly adjusted they are anchored by means of the set screws 25. Ifthe merchandise supporting forms Fare to be employed, they are placed inposition by inserting the bent ends 21 into the openings 26 so that the grid-like forms will extend toward the front of the cabinet. By staggering the frames F, the maximum capacity for hat storage is obtained. These grid iron form-s are arranged in staggered relation within the unit C, both vertically and laterally, so that the spaces f will serve as guides to correctly position hats supported by the next lower pair of grids. See Figure '7. By this arrangement, the two inner members oi each pair practically provide a two-point support for the hat, the hat brims overlap but do not contact, and maximum storage capacity is obtained without harmful crushing of the hats. It will be readily perceived that the openings 26 in the tubular members T are not objectionable when said members are employed for supporting clothing on hangers.

The advan-tages of the invention will be readily understood by those skilledV in the art to which it belongs. For instance, it4 will be readily understood that Va maximum number of unit containers may be employed for a given space, or in providing hangers for garments. It will also be observed that a very simple and inexpensive supporting means is providedr which is capable of quick Vinsertion and replacement and in which the parts are rmly held in place after assembly.` An important advantage of the detachable relationship of the parts, in addition to the multiple selective use factor, is the convenience in shipping the display unit from the place of manufacture to the location of installation.

Having thus explained the nature of the inven- Vrit() tachably supported by the end members upon the opposed inner faces of the latter, tubular gridsupporting members detachably engaging pairs of said horizontally disposed support elements, said tubular grid-supporting members having longitudinally aligned radial openings, and hat supporting grids arranged in staggered relation and having angular portions removably engageable with said openings, each grid having p0rtions formed to provide two-point supports at positions corresponding approximately at the junction of the brim with the sides of standard type hat bodies, said tubular members being vertically spaced apart a distance less than the height of the hats to be supported.

2. A display unit of the character described having in combination laterally spaced end members, horizontally disposed support elements detachably supported by the end members upon the opposed inner faces of the latter, tubular members each detachably engaging a pair of said horizontally disposed support elements, said tubular members being vertically spaced apart a distance less than the height of the Vhats to be supported and a plurality of removable and interchangeable nat-supporting grids, each engaging and suppo-rted by a tubular member, said grids being arranged in staggered relation, said grids having guide portions complemental to the hat crowns so as to correctly position hats supported by the next lower grid.

3. A display unit of the character, described having in combination laterally spaced end members, horizontally disposed support elements detachably supported by the end members upon the opposed inner faces of the latter, a plurality ofv tubular grid-supporting members each detachably engaging a pair of said horizontally disposed support elements, said tubular members being vertically spaced apart a distance less than the height ofthe hats to be supported and a plurali-ty of hat-supporting grids, each grid being detachably supported by a tubulargrid-supporting member, said grids each having guide portions, said grids being relatively spaced vertically, and the guide portions being complemental to the hat crowns, so that they will correctly position hats supported by the next lower grid.

4. A display unit of the character described having in combination a plurality of support members which are vertically spaced apart a distance less than the height of the hats tobe supported, and a plurality of hat supporting grid units, said units arranged in staggered relation tion and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is:

l. VA display unit of the character described having in combination laterally spaced end members, horizontally disposed support elements deand each consisting of a pair of grid-like bodies carried by a support member in laterally spaced relation, so as toY provide guide portions complemental to said hats, each of said bodies consisting. of a Ll-shaped guide wire and a plurality of intermediate hat supporting wires, the latter being integrally connected at their outer ends with the body Wires, the inner ends of all wires being detachably connected to their said support member.

5. VIn a unit container of the character described a hat supporting grid unit comprising a pair of grid-like bodies each consisting of a U' shaped guide'wire and aplurality of intermediate hat supporting wires, the latter being integrally connected at their outer ends with the body wire, the inner ends of all Wires beingbent at an angle, and aV support member having longitudinally spaced openings to releasabl-y receive said bent ends, said bodies being arranged Vin laterally spaced relation sol as to provide guide portions complemental to the crowns of hats supported on a grid body located in a plane below said grid unit.

6. A display unit of the character described having in combination horizontally disposed support means, a plurality of grid-supporting members detachably engaging said support means, and a plurality of hat-supporting grids, each grid being detachably supported by a grid-supporting member, said grid-supporting members being vertically spaced apart a distance less than the height of the hats to be supported, so that the grids are in different horizontal planes, each grid having laterally spaced guide and hat-supporting body portions, the guide portions of the respective grids being in staggered relationship with respect to those of an adjacent grid located in a different horizontal plane, the guide portions being complementa] to the hat crowns, so that they will correctly position hats supported by the hat-supporting body portions of the next lower grid.

7. In a hat storing and displaying unit, a grid having an intermediate hat-supporting portion and spaced guide portions on each side thereof, a second such grid spaced laterally from the rst mentioned grid a distance to accommodate a hat therebetween, a third grid vertically spaced below the space between said rst mentioned grids for supporting said hat, the vertical spacing being less than theheight oi the hat, supporting means located at the rear of the grids, and interengaging means between the grids and the supporting means.

WILLIAM T. HORMES. 

